Using the following case study, explain the role of different Departments of the Government and citizens in the context of RTI. Also, write how can the RTI make the functioning of the governments more transparent.

Following incident occurred in Chinnashankarampet of Medak district. Members of the Self Help Groups joined in AbhayaHastham, AamAadmi schemes of the Rural Welfare Ministry of the State Government. Under this scheme, their children who were students of classes 9 to 12 were eligible for a scholarship of Rs 1200. However, for 3 years, students have not been receiving the amount for the years during 2008-11. The students went to the (Indira Kranti Patham) IKP office and enquired about it, but the officers ignored their requests.

This came to the notice of the local newspapers. Now they applied to the officers concerned for the information with regard to the scholarships sanctioned. They asked about the number of beneficiaries and the amount sanctioned during 2008-09, 09-10 and 10-11. They got a reply in one week. The amount was seven lakh rupees. It became clear from the RTI records that even though the amount was sanctioned, it was not distributed. When it was published in the newspapers, the amount was distributed to 1167 children within 15 days.

Ans: Every governmental department, be it state or central, has Public Information Officers who are accountable to state public information office and central information office respectively. the If Public information officers refuse to provide information or to reply to the application, then the role and importance of state and central information offices come into the picture. They have the authority to penalize them. Thus, the state and central information offices enjoy autonomy. They look after the working of public information officers by ensuring that correct information is flowing to the public and all the applications are answered within a specified time.

Right to Information Act was passed in 2005 by the central government. It provides right to citizens to seek information from the government departments and thus make them more accountable to the people. Any malpractices in these departments can be challenged by the citizens through RTI. It made the system more accountable and transparent. And gave people the power to scrutinize public actions. It makes government more efficient and responsible.